Official: Mercedes-Benz Shooting Break Concept

[Centurion]

I have a feeling that it will. Especially if they get good feedback. I think it will surely be a hit. I don't even like wagons, but even I would considering buying this.

I can picture Mercedes bringing out a CLS wagon and axing the R-Class.

 

[bmer]

To be honest, I'd love to see a CLS Wagon make it to production, because this concept looks so freakin' good!

Presumably it's quite close to production since it already has a production code (X218), the next gen CLS (sedan) is C218.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

I can picture Mercedes bringing out a CLS wagon and axing the R-Class.

Yes, that could very well happen. Especially if the R-class facelift doesn't get a warm reception.

 

[klier]

Andreas, the Shooting Break is for MB what the Gran Coupé is for BMW: previews of the upcoming 6er and CLS. 6er will have two doors less, CLS will have a different roof.

I'm very happy with the shape of the headlights of the SB. It is what I was scared of the most for the new CLS! The renders didn't quite convince me, and to this day the headlights are the weakest part of the current CLS (imo).

I can picture Mercedes bringing out a CLS wagon and axing the R-Class.

I can't, because the R class is all about space. And this CLS wagon has none.

 

[MBFanToDeath]

Beijing 2010: Mercedes-Benz Shooting Break concept -- Autoblog

 

[HighestOfHigh]

^That front is so aggressive. Gotta to love it.

headlights are the weakest part of the current CLS (imo).

I agree...BIG improvement!

 

[Shining Star]

 

[Shining Star]

This is incredible...

 

[LaArtist]

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Love this car

Make the ******* wagon aswell

Who cares..its better looking that most cars on the roads..

 

[HighestOfHigh]

I hope those rear lights make it to production. They are outstanding...

 

[Centurion]

It's a work of art. Did Wagoner pen it?

 

[Nicks]

It's a work of art. Did Wagoner pen it?

Wagener is chief designer, i don't think he personally draws anything

 

[bum-man]

Best car in show without a doubt.

 

[Potential]

I really dislike this new design direction of Mercedes Benz compared to the C Class, CL and S Class. The new models just look over designed to my eyes. This concept is an abomination to me, and I hope the CLS doesn't suffer the same fate. I can't stand that front. Slapping a SLS similar fron onto all these models looks ridiculous. When will Mercedes Benz design stylish and elegant sedans again?

 

[Merc1]

Anyway, what do we have next as the Autoshow season draws to a close?

The new engines and the facelifted CL in June, the actual CLS in September at Paris, and what type of concept at Detroit next Jan....maybe a concept version of the new C-Class Coupe? Oh and the C-Class facelift late in 2010.


M

 

[Der Hofmeister]

Anyway, what do we have next as the Autoshow season draws to a close?

The new engines and the facelifted CL in June, the actual CLS in September at Paris, and what type of concept at Detroit next Jan....maybe a concept version of the new C-Class Coupe? Oh and the C-Class facelift late in 2010.

M

Do not forget the new SLK, which is expected to bow in December 2010, and the series C-Class Coupe, which might be premiered in March 2011 at Geneva.

 

[Star&Car]

 

[pismeov]

Here you go...

i'm gonna quote shining star here to prove a point for those saying that the interior is a copy of bmw's.

first, we have to come to the understanding that the best place to put a navi/infotainment screen is nearest to the top of the dash as possible without actually intruding the front visibility. it is universally evident that all carmakers have come to realize this and has adopted this principle to their latest models. every new model from buicks to lexus to acura to bmw and etc have now put this screens on top of their ventilation vents if not on par. putting the screen far below the dash is no longer acceptable as it introduces a hazard to the driver.

to this end, a new cls interior cannot be a mirror copy of the old one in terms of the placement of controls and screen. the screen MUST be at the top of the center console area.

this being in consideration, one should appreciate how the new interior is an evolution of the old one by observing a few things:

1. the new interior maintains the large, sweeping wood trim that dominates the dashboard.

2. as expected, the vents are now below the screen, and the audio/climate controls are below the vents. this arrangement is now universal amongst all all-new mercedes models (i.e. not just facelifted or carried-on) from the w204 to the sls except that the sls has the vents on par with the screen.

3. all the controls are parts-bin units that exist in other mercedes models.

4. the transmission tunnel is a hybrid of the w212 e-sedan and the w221 s-class to the point that even the lack of a transmission shifter is obviously apparent.

5. the door panels are an organic evolution from the model-imcumbent to the point that the door handles themselves are a very slight reshaping of the old.

these things being said, one could thus surmize that the new cls-presumtive interior is an evolution of the old one by reintroducing the same, organic, elegant lines that has come to distinguish the incumbent so well. and this is executed by using few new parts but rather existing mercedes parts that we have come to be familiar with. therefore, i pose the question:

how is this interior:



more an immitation of this one:

and not an evolution of this one:

[

when the following things are realized:

1. the bmw is styled just as elegantly but more linearly than the mercedes. one can see how the wood trim across the dashboard is uniform in overall height from door to door. the mercedes' wood trim bulges at the middle of the dash similar to that of the w221's.

2. the controls are exactly what we would expect from bmw and thus are very different from the mercedes especially when looking at the transmission tunnel where no similarity exists aside from the idrive/comand knob and the use of wood.

3. the screen sits atop the wood trim in the bmw and is in an area that is visually separated from the lower tier of the dash whereas the mercedes screen cuts into the trim.

and thus i ask the following given that a dashboard can only have so much flexibility in design when posed with several limiting parameters like the placement of the screen, vents and controls, and add that to the fact that this is a luxury car and luxury car makers cannot be too radical and experimental with their treatment of production interiors compared to supercar makers:

how would you have designed the interior differently?

is it not inevitable that similarities are bound to exist between competitors' interior designs?

do you honestly think that mercedes sought bmw's interior design language as inspiration for their interior?

and finally, i must add, many here moaned at the idea of a new cls interior that is lifted straight off the w212 e-class. to our relief, this will not be the case as we are getting an interior that is feasibly unique. but now, others complain that it's no longer too much like the w212's interior but rather bmw's. what would have made those people happy?

 

[Shining Star]

I agree 100%. An excellent and well thought out post.

 

[Shining Star]

Video footage of the interior: